Objective: To study the in vivo metabolic pathways of liquiritin (LQ) in rats. Methods: An HPLC-QTRAP-MS method was established and applied to identify the metabolites of LQ in bile, urine, feces, and plasma after ig administration of LQ (300 mg/kg) to rats. Results: A total of nine metabolites were found in rats. The major metabolic pathway of LQ was deglucosidation to liquiritigenin (LG) and dehydration, glucuronidation, and sulfation of LG. Conclusion: LQ undergoes extensive phases I and II metabolism in rats. The major metabolites of LQ are LG and its glucuronides and sulfates.

Objective: A simple, sensitive, and rapid LC-MS/MS method has been established and validated for the determination of liquiritigenin (LG) in rat plasma. Methods: Naringenin was chosen as internal standard (IS). LG and IS were separated on a Diamonsil C18 analytical column with a mobile phase of methanol-10% methanol in water containing 0.5 mmol/L ammonium formate and 0.2% formic acid (55:45) at the isocratic flow rate of 0.6 mL/min for 10 min. The multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was performed on a mass spectrometer in the negative ion mode with electro-spray ionization (ESI) source and the transition from precursor ion to product ion was m/z 255.0→119.0 for LG and m/z 271.0→151.0 for IS, respectively. Results: The linearity was acceptable in the range of 5-5000 ng/mL (r = 0.9973). The inter-day and intra-day accuracies were in the ranges of -0.09%-3.25% and -5.02%-9.21%, respectively. The precision was in the ranges of 3.60%-12.4% and 0.909%-6.89%, respectively. LG was stable in the course of analysis and storage. Conclusion: The LC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study for the first time in rats after ig and iv administration of liquiritin (LQ), a glycoside of LG, at pharmacologically effective levels.

Objective To investigate the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Methods A total of 792 patients of T2DM were enrolled in the study.There were 448 males and 344 females,with an average age of (54.13 ± 13.06)years.The average duration of diabetes was (8.03 4±6.70) years.The patients were grouped according to the degree of DR and thyroid function.Among them,483 patients (61.0％) were no DR,240 patients (30.3％) were mild DR,69 patients (8.7％) were severe DR.725 patients (91.5％) were normal thyroid function,67 patients (8.5％) were SCH.The prevalence of SCH among no DR group,mild DR group and severe DR group was compared.And the prevalence of DR between normal thyroid function group and SCH group was compared.Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the association between SCH and DR.Results No significant differences among the three groups (no DR group,mild DR group,severe DR group) were found in the prevalence of SCH (x2=1.823,P=0.402).There were no significant differences in the incidences of DR between normal thyroid function group and SCH group (x2=1.618,P=0.239).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that SCH was not significant associated with DR [mild DR:odds ratio (OR)=1.361,95％ confidence interval (CI)=0.773-2.399,P=0.286;severe DR:OR=1.326,95％CI=0.520-3.384,P=0.555;DR:OR=1.353,95％ CI=0.798-2.294,P=0.261).Conclusion SCH is not significant associated with DR in patients with T2DM.

Objective To observe the biological activities of human doppel(Dpl) protein transiently expressed and Dpl-like protein PrP?32-121 on a human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.Methods Recombinant mammalian expression plasmids containing human PRND gene and truncated PrP?32-121 fragment were generated by PCR.The expression and location of Dpl and PrP?32-121 post-transfection were observed by IFA.The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT analysis.Cellular apoptosis was investigated by flow cytometry and Western blot.Results Both Dpl and PrP?32-121 protein were expressed and mainly located on the cell membrane.Remarkable cytotoxicity was detected on SH-SY5Y cells after 24 h transfection.Meanwhile,more Annexin V/PI positively-stained cells as well as lower levels of cellular pro-caspase-3 and Bel-2 were detected in the cells receiving Dpl and PrP?32-121 expressing plasmids.Conclusion Dpl protein transiently expressed and PrP?32-121 can lead to the similar neural cytotoxicity,probably triggering the cell apoptosis program.

Objective To elucidate the effects of different modes of partial parenteral nutrition (PPN)on immunological function of T-lymphocyte in non small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)patients during chemotherapy.Methods Ninety-three patients with non-small cell lung cancer were randomly divided into three groups:the control group(30 patients),the low dose of PPN(32 patients) and the high dose of NNP(31 patients).Exactly the same chemotherapy was applied to each of three groups.During chemotherapy,three groups were supplied the same diet,the control group received conventional treatment;the low dose group and the high dose group received additional parenteral nutritional support besides diet.The low dose group was given 250 ml 9-AA daily and the high dose group was given 500 ml 9-AA daily.The T lymphocyte subsets CD3~+,CD3~++CD4~+ ,CD3~++CD8~+ and cells were detected respectively before and after chemotherapy.Results In all of the three groups,the percentage of NK cells,CD3~+ and CD3~++CD4~+ cells were decreased significantly before and after chemotherapy(all P＜0.05),In the control and low dose groups,NK cells changed more significantly after chemotherapy(P＜0.01).The percentages of CD3~+,CD3~++CD4~+,CD3~++ CD4~+/CD3~++CD8~+ of the low dose group and high dose group were higher than those of the control group before and after chemotherapy(all P＜0.05),the percentage of CD3~++CD8~+,CD3~++CD4~+/ CD3~++CD8~+ of the low dose group and hight dose group did not change notably(all P＞0.05). Conclusions The chemotherapy on patients with NSCLC will possibly cause malnutrition and immunosuppression.The benefits of giving 9-AA to NSCLC patients who were applying PPN and undergoing chemotherapy may include antagonizing immunological function aggravation,improving nutrition status and improving immunological functions of the T lymphocytes during chemotherapy.

Objective To observe the biological activities of human doppel (Dpl) protein transiently expressed and Dpl-like protein PrPΔ32-121 on a human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Methods Recombinant mammalian expression plasmids containing human PRND gene and truncated PrPΔ32-121 fragment were generated by PCR. The expression and location of Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 post-transfection were observed by IFA. The cytotoxicity was measured by MTT analysis. Cellular apoptosis was investigated by flow cytometry and Western blot. Results Both Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 protein were expressed and mainly located on the cell membrane. Remarkable cytotoxicity was detected on SH-SY5Y cells after 24 h transfection. Meanwhile, more Annexin V/PI positively-stained cells as well as lower levels of cellular pro-caspase-3 and Bel-2 were detected in the cells receiving Dpl and PrPΔ32-121 expressing plasmids. Conclusion Dpl protein transiently expressed and PrPΔ32-121 can lead to the similar neural cytotoxicity, probably triggering the cell apoptosis program.

This study was aimed to observe the natural history and evolution of cervical spondylotic myelopa-thy , explore development law of the disease incidence in order to improve the understanding of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and provide a theoretical basis for Chinese medicine treatment . Complete clinical data of 80 cervical spondylotic myelopathy cases were collected from March 1998 to July 2007 in special and ex-pert practice of Prof . Shi's out-patient department . Chinese medicine for q i-blood regulation was given in the treatment . Related measuring scales were designed . More than two-month follow-up was given through means of returning visit, telephone calls and letter inquiries. Changes of clinical symptoms, and scores of different types of evaluations were observed . The SPSS software was used in the data analysis of results from measuring scales for the objective evaluation . The results showed that there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between initial visiting and first time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visiting . For patients who continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treat-ment, there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up ( P < 0 . 05 ) . It suggested that through continued long-term Chinese medicine q i-blood regulation treatment , the scores on spinal cord function were increased compared with the previous visit-ing . In this group of patients , there were no statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score be-tween the patient's initial visiting , first time follow-up , and the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . The scores on spinal cord function suggested that there was no obvious difference on the relieving degree between the first-time follow-up and second-time follow-up . For patients who were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment, no matter if it was full score on the spinal cord function in the first-time follow-up , there were statistical differences on the 40-score and JOA total score between the first-time and second-time follow-up . It suggested that the disease became worse when patients were unable to continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment. It was concluded that Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy has a significant effect in both short-term and long-term treatment with steady effectiveness. Patients who continue the Chinese medicine qi-blood regulation treatment not only can prevent disease recurrence , but also can promote further relieving of disease condition .

The aim of this study was to fabricate biomatrix/polymer hybrid scaffolds using an electrospinning technique. Then tissue engineered heart valves were engineered by seeding mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) onto the scaffolds. The effects of the hybrid scaffolds on the proliferation of seed cells, formation of extracellular matrix and mechanical properties of tissue engineered heart valves were investigated. MSCs were obtained from rats. Porcine aortic heart valves were decellularized, coated with poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) using an electrospinning technique, and reseeded and cultured over a time period of 14 days. In control group, the decellularized valve scaffolds were reseeded and cultured over an equivalent time period. Specimens of each group were examined histologically (hematoxylin-eosin [HE] staining, immunohistostaining, and scanning electron microscopy), biochemically (DNA and 4-hydroxyproline) and mechanically. The results showed that recellularization was comparable to the specimens of hybrid scaffolds and controls. The specimens of hybrid scaffolds and controls revealed comparable amounts of cell mass and 4-hydroxyproline (P>0.05). However, the specimens of hybrid scaffolds showed a significant increase in mechanical strength, compared to the controls (P<0.05). This study demonstrated the superiority of the hybrid scaffolds to increase the mechanical strength of tissue engineered heart valves. And compared to the decellularized valve scaffolds, the hybrid scaffolds showed similar effects on the proliferation of MSCs and formation of extracellular matrix. It was believed that the hybrid scaffolds could be used for the construction of tissue engineered heart valves.

The evidence and the feature of apoptosis following tyrauma brain injury(TBI) and the possible mechanisms underlying apoptosis were reviewed. Recently research showed that apoptosis play an important role in TBI, the occurring time and area of apoptosis were found significant differences compared with that of necrosis. The neural cell apoptosis can undergo following many pathways after TBI. In our review, the foreground of apoptosis after TBI research in forensic pathology were also discussed.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Neurons/pathology*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel 4 (HCN4) and connexin43 (Cx43) in the sinoatrial node of electric shock death. METHODS: As experimental group, 34 cases of electric shock death who had definite current mark evidence were selected from pathology department of Xuzhou Medical College from 2010 to 2013. As the control group, 20 cases of fatal severe craniocerebral injury in traffic accidents were chosen. The expressions of HCN4 and Cx43 in the sinoatrial node were observed by immunohistochemical technology. RESULTS: HCN4 positive cells expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of the sinoatrial node. Cx43 positive cells expressed in the cell membrane and cytoplasm of T cells and myocardial cells. The expression of HCN4 was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05) and the expression of Cx43 was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The changes of HCN4 and Cx43 expressions in the sinoatrial node illustrate electric shock death might be related to the abnormalities of cardiac electrophysiology and conduction.
Connexin 43/metabolism* ; Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Cation Channels ; Heart Rate ; Hyperpolarization-Activated Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels/metabolism* ; Immunohistochemistry/methods* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; Sinoatrial Node/physiopathology*